Senior figures at Old Trafford are yet to be contacted by their Real counterparts over De Gea, but the Spanish club are expected to make a confirmed bid for the 24-year-old next week following his participation in Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus in Borisov on Sunday.

And although United will resist any attempts by Real to sign De Gea for a reduced fee due to the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper having just a year to run on his Old Trafford contract, the admission by Louis van Gaal last month that a list of replacements had already been drawn up has given Real the confidence a deal can be negotiated.

Real are expected to make an opening offer of around £20m for De Gea, who arrived at United in an £18.3m deal from Atletico in the summer of 2011.

But with United having paid £24m for Robin van Persie in August 2012, despite the forward having just a year to run on his Arsenal contract, Real may be forced to offer close to £30m to persuade United to sell De Gea, who rejected a new deal worth £200,000 a week to stay atUnited.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are confident they are closing in on the signing of striker Radamel Falcao in a move driven by manager Jose Mourinho.

It is understood negotiations between Chelsea, Monaco and Falcao are at an advanced stage and all three parties expect a deal to be struck.